Democracy in Honduras Since 2009
Author
Jensen, Emma Lærke
Term
4. term
Publication year
2018
Submitted on
2018-10-16
Pages
52
Abstract
Dette speciale undersøger demokratiets udvikling i Honduras siden statskuppet i 2009 og vurderer, om landet kan betegnes som demokratisk i 2017/2018. Udganspunktet er, at præsident Manuel Zelaya blev fjernet ved et udemokratisk indgreb, hvilket rejser spørgsmål om senere magtudøvelse, valghåndtering og politisk korruption. Analysen fokuserer særligt på præsidentvalget i november 2017 og mulige undemokratiske eller korrupte praksisser, der kan påvirke valginstitutionerne og borgernes tillid. Metodisk bygger projektet primært på otte kvalitative, åbne spørgeskemaer på spansk besvaret af honduranere (via NGO’en Red Viva og private kontakter), suppleret af internationale artikler for at indhente uafhængige perspektiver. Den teoretiske ramme omfatter Huntington om demokrati og demokratialisering, Stepan og Linz om nationalstat og konsolidering af demokrati samt teorier om politisk korruption, valgkonkurrence og international valgobservation. Specialet forholder sig til baggrundsforhold som udbredt fattigdom, voldelige bander, narkotikahandel og høj korruption, der kan underminere institutioner. Datagrundlaget er begrænset af et lille, ikke-repræsentativt sample og de generelle udfordringer ved fjernindsamlede surveys. Uddraget indeholder ikke endelige resultater, men studiet søger at sammenholde teori, respondenternes erfaringer og uafhængige kilder for at vurdere, om de demokratiske normer er blevet svækket siden 2009 og frem mod valget i 2017.
This thesis examines the trajectory of democracy in Honduras since the 2009 coup d’état and assesses whether the country can be considered democratic in 2017/2018. The removal of President Manuel Zelaya through an undemocratic intervention raises questions about subsequent governance, election management, and political corruption. The analysis focuses on the November 2017 presidential election and on potential undemocratic or corrupt practices that may affect electoral institutions and public trust. Methodologically, the study relies primarily on eight qualitative, open-ended Spanish-language surveys completed by Hondurans (via the NGO Red Viva and private contacts), complemented by international articles to provide independent perspectives. The theoretical framework draws on Huntington’s work on democracy and democratization, Stepan and Linz on nation-state and democratic consolidation, and theories of political corruption, electoral competition, and international election monitoring. The research situates these issues within broader conditions of widespread poverty, violent gangs, drug trafficking, and high corruption that can weaken institutions. The evidence base is limited by a small, non-representative sample and the constraints of remotely collected surveys. This excerpt does not present final findings; the study aims to triangulate theory, respondent experiences, and independent sources to judge whether democratic norms have eroded since 2009 and leading up to the 2017 election.
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